Author Topic: Bodging up an automatic hacksaw (Read 11285 times)

Tinkering_Guy · « **on:** August 11, 2010, 01:21:01 PM »

(Maybe the wrong forum? Hard to tell..)

I don't have room in my microscopic shop for an automatic bandsaw; what I've got is a hand-held bandsaw and some old hacksaws. So I'm thinking maybe one of my projects could be to turn one of those old hacksaws into something driven by one of the motors around here (the mini-mill, the mini-lathe, some squirrel-cage fan motors, an old bench grinder motor, ..). Using one of the already-in-place machines' spindle to drive it would be a plus due to the space, so it'd basically be an attachment that could be folded up and put away without demanding dedicated bench or floor space..

I'm sure this has been bruited before, but I haven't found it yet. Is it a worthwhile project, or a complete waste of time?

Thanks!

Bernd · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2010, 03:01:21 PM »

Tinkering_Guy,

I've seen the lathe used to drive a die filer so your not that far off with your thought of powering the saw.

I'd use the lathe to power the hack saw.

I've never looked to see if such unit has ever been built. Sounds like a fun project.

Bernd

Brass_Machine · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2010, 03:19:32 PM »

Sounds like an interesting project. I am sure it can be done. When you start it, do a project log

Eric

btw... here or 'how do i' is an appropriate place to post. When you start, we can move this post to the project logs or you can start a new one after the ideas have been hashed out!

cidrontmg · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2010, 07:52:40 PM »

Quote:"Is it a worthwhile project, or a complete waste of time?"
Definitely the former.

Like Bernd wrote, there are lathe driven filing machines. I believe Edgar T. Westbury designed one that might be worth looking at, and there are several others. Substituting the file with a hacksaw blade, and maybe with a longer stroke... Maybe with some sort of auto feed for the part...

Andrew_D · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2010, 10:25:58 PM »

A quick search turned up...http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/woodworking/Lathe-Operation/Hacksaw-Attachment-For-Lathes.html

Andrew

Bernd · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2010, 11:00:54 PM »

Hey Andrew,

That's exactly what I had in mind. Nice find.

Bernd

Tinkering_Guy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2010, 02:46:57 AM »

Mm. I'll probably play with the geometry a bit, but that's pretty much what I'm thinking. Space is really at a premium.

To make matters more complex, I'm trying to figure out how to move the reciprocating action through 90⁰ (i.e., along the ways, parallel to the spindle) without having to involve bevel gearing or the like -- just levers and fulcra. I think I've got it, so don't tell me..

Thanks!

John Hill · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2010, 05:25:50 PM »

Hi T_G

This could be an interesting and very worthwhile project and using the lathe drive would certainly save space but at the expense of having to assemble it every time you want to cut something. If you are like me and only use a tiny fraction to the lathe bed, usually, you could semi-permanently mount your hacksaw at the extreme tailstock end and connect it to the chuck with a removable drive shaft when needed, of course you would have to be able to easily remove the tail stock.

Some other suggestions that might be viable alternatives:

Make some sort of frame to convert your hand held bandsaw into a bench top machine....

Make a bandsaw that would fit in the lathe, the general idea is you put the drive shaft in the lathe chuck and clamp the work to the cross slide.

Buy a circular cold saw blade and make an arbor for it so that you can clamp your work on the cross slide and use the lathe as a cold saw.

Cheers
John

lugnut · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2010, 06:22:01 PM »

What you need is a old saber saw. remove the motor and use the angled gear head. You should be able to make a die filer or use a hacksaw blade to make chips. A simple table attached to your cross slide, power the gear head with the lathe.
I think that ShopSmith made a bunch of tools that run from the motor head on their saws.
Mel

Tinkering_Guy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2010, 09:11:25 PM »

Given my space constraints, I'm not sure the bandsaw or arbor approaches are viable, but I'll be checking it out.

Quote from: lugnut on August 12, 2010, 06:22:01 PM

What you need is a old saber saw. remove the motor and use the angled gear head.

Ah, excellent idea. I think I actually have an old sabre saw in storage..

Thanks!

dave_424 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 21, 2010, 12:21:39 PM »

What you need sir is one of these

&feature=search

Dave

ksor · « **Reply #11 on:** August 21, 2010, 02:02:58 PM »

I think there's too much jumping going on here - right ?

Bluechip · « **Reply #12 on:** August 21, 2010, 02:17:01 PM »

Quote from: ksor on August 21, 2010, 02:02:58 PM

I think there's too much jumping going on here - right ?

You could be right, Ksor ...

Trying to work out if it is cutting on the forward or back-stroke .. ?

Round and round went the bloody great wheel ....

In and out etc. etc...

Dave BC

dave_424 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 21, 2010, 02:54:34 PM »

A few lumps of cast lead on the top and that jumping will be gone.

Dave

doubleboost · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2010, 10:21:58 AM »

A bit of weight and some fine tuning will have it working fine
You could watch that all day
bit like a mechanical lubricator on a traction engine

ksor · « **Reply #15 on:** August 22, 2010, 10:28:57 AM »

If it's jumping in the cutting stroke then more weight make it worse, I beleave - then it's caused of cutting material in the teeth - right ?

Bluechip · « **Reply #16 on:** August 22, 2010, 10:59:33 AM »

Quite a lot of power hacksaws cut opposite to a hand hacksaw, and relieve the blade pressure on the other stroke.

Dunno if ALL are like that, only ever had dealings with one, and that had the blade teeth pointing to the crank end.
Or it did when the blade was in right. Little piccy on the casting ..

Some reference here:

http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?t=83445

Probably others if you want to look ..

Dave BC

Jere · « **Reply #17 on:** August 22, 2010, 01:52:37 PM »

Ran across a website showing a homemade power hacksaw attachment for the Gingery Mill.

http://homepage.mac.com/bhagenbuch/machine/pages/hacksaw.html

fatal-exception · « **Reply #18 on:** August 24, 2010, 04:15:54 PM »

Hmm...interesting. Never really thought of the lathe as anything else but, well, a lathe!

Has anyone seen a shaper setup for the lathe?

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Author Topic: Bodging up an automatic hacksaw (Read 11285 times)